4 Days Left to win August luggage tag

Hi all,

Just wanted to remind you that there are still 4 days left to enter yourself in the drawing for a free, very cool Las Vegas luggage tag! Just visit my site (http://www.simplifyinglasvegas.com/) for details. A new drawing will be held at the end of September, so if you don't win this time, don't fret.

Also, new on the site is a place where you can view my favorite Vegas pictures and post your own in my Flickr group. Let's see some of your favorite pics of Vegas!

I so appreciate everyone's input and suggestions about the site, and I am currently thinking about ways that I can make it even better. It's a lot of work to keep up a site like this, but it's a labor of love. Thanks, Vegas fans, for your support. I look forward to future conversations about my home away from home, and I hope you are encouraged to simplify your trip to Las Vegas!

Viva,
Mike

Exciting Stuff!

Hi all,

I was fortunate enough to answer yesterday's Question of the Day for the Las Vegas Advisor, a superb Las Vegas website. It was a follow-up for an earlier sports question I answered on July 3rd. I subsequently received a lot of hits to my site, lots of people filled out a form for a free itinerary, some filled out my survey to be in the running for a free Las Vegas luggage tag, and a few even purchased my book. I am so thankful!

I want to keep this momentum going, so please spread the word and tell everyone about Simplifying Las Vegas. I already have ideas for updating the website and book. Mostly, there are some categories I need to add, and I need to fine-tune some tips & tricks for making the most of your money. Now all I need is another few hours in the day. Oh well, sleep is overrated!

The good news is that I'll have another Question of the Day on the Las Vegas Advisor later this year. It'll be about booking your trip to Vegas, which surprisingly nobody really covers in any detail. It's something that I spend a lot of time researching, so I have a lot of advice on the topic. I'll let you know when that question will be coming out, so stay tuned.

In the mean time, I'm thinking a lot about my January trip to my favorite city. I can't wait to stay at the Flamingo, play some blackjack and craps, hang out with friends, eat at Battista's Hole in the Wall, and just have a good time. If any of you thinking about your next trip, please chime in and let me know what you'll be doing, where you'll be staying, etc.

Viva,
Mike

Goin' to Vegas!

Have you been shopping for a Vegas vacation lately? Prices keep going up and down and up and down. They're making me seasick! The good news is that you can still find an affordable trip to Sin City. The bad news is that it may take you a little longer than it used to because you'll need to search more websites. I have found (this week, anyway) that Orbitz and Expedia have been offering the best prices for flights and hotel + flight options. It seems odd to me that these sites have lower airfare than even the airline sites, but I've seen stranger things in the travel biz.

More good news... at least for me, anyway! I've booked my January trip to Las Vegas, and I'm so very excited. I've even convinced some of my friends, who I've recently re-connected with at my high school reunion (won't say which one), to join me. I can't tell you how amped I am for this trip. I don't know how I'm gonna hold out for 5 months, but I'll just have to try.

We looked to the Imperial Palace, the Riveria, and the Flamingo for good deals on rooms. We finally decided to book rooms at the Flamingo, which I've never stayed at before, so if any of you have 'mingoed it up, please let me know what you think of this joint. I have gambled there before, with disastrous results. That pink bird likes to take my money! And I don't think I'll be eating any Cheeseburgers in Paradise, but there are some good restaurants in there.

I was also happy to learn that there is at least one heated pool open year-round, and they have a hot tub down there in the pool area. Pretty cool! And I'll take pics of their bird sanctuary area (I've never been) and post them... yes, 5 months from now, but if I can wait that long, I hope you can, too.

Don't forget to peruse my website and fill out the survey for a chance to win a cool luggage tag!

Viva,
Mike

Win a Free Luggage Tag!

That's right... you can win a free luggage tag, and all you have to do is fill out my survey. First, log in (or create a new account) at http://www.simplifyinglasvegas.com/. Then, after you peruse the website for a minute, click the survey link on the Members page. Fill out your info and submit the survey to be considered in the monthly drawing for the cool luggage tag! It comes complete with a tie, so you can easily attach it to your favorite bag. One entry per month per person.

In other news... I'm planning my next trip to Vegas for late January. Prices are varying pretty wildly right now because gas prices are high (resulting in higher airfare) but hotels are lowering prices to lure people in. Still, the best way to book a trip is through a package deal. Check out some of the travel links on the Members page when you log into my site. It takes a few clicks, but you'll soon discover the best price for your next trip to Sin City.

I'm really looking forward to my trip in January... so much is changing (of course!) and will change between now and then. It will all seem new again, and I love that about Vegas. That's why I keep updating the website, this blog, and the book. Whew! It's a labor of love.

Until next time...

Viva,
Mike